Carol H. Steckel, MPH, 2017 Alumna of the Year

School of Public Health

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Carol Herrmann Steckel, MPH, is the UAB School of Public Health 2017 Alumna of the Year. She earned her MPH in 1991 by participating in the School’s weekend program in Birmingham, AL. At the time, she had already served as Commissioner of the Alabama Medicaid Agency. As Medicaid Commissioner, she became aware of the high quality work done by UAB School of Public Health professors and students, and when she realized she would need an advanced degree, an MPH from UAB was the best choice.

She ended up working in public health and health care “by accident.” It was SOPH alumnus, Dr. Bill Roper, who turned her career aspirations away from working in political campaigns to working in health care. She states that she “was hooked, especially with the Medicaid program and opportunities there to create programs that empower people to make better decisions and improve their lives.”

Currently, Carol is the Senior Director of Alliance Development for WellCare Health Plans. Prior to WellCare, she served as the Director of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid). She has also served as the Director of the Center for Health Care Innovation with the Department of Health and Hospitals in Louisiana and as the Commissioner of the Alabama Medicaid Agency. When asked what she is most proud of in her career, she answered, “that people are better off because of the work I’ve done, not by myself, but with a dedicated group of individuals who believe in the power to make a difference. I hope my time as Alabama’s Medicaid Commissioner has meant that, while it was not easy, we were able to provide basic health care services, especially to our state’s children.”

Carol will receive the UAB School of Public Health 2017 Alumna of the Year award at the December School of Public Health Convocation Ceremony. She will also be the Convocation keynote speaker.